Education
Meridian Sexting Ban Better Suited For Coppers
While well intentioned, a proposed “sexting policy” for the Meridian School District may be better suited for law enforcement. As written, the policy is constitutionally intrusive with potentially illegal searches into student telephones and communication devices. Rather than the following proposed policy, the District may be better served to have a simple policy stating, “If [...]
U of I, Penn State Cases Share Similar Facts
We are surprised how few seem to have connected the dots between the tragic murder of the University of Idaho Coed and the child rape allegations at Penn State. In both cases university officials were advised of horrible crimes and/or threats, but no action was even taken to launch full fledged investigations. All concerned should [...]
“Paper or Plastic?” Goes To Polls In Hailey
The question of “paper or plastic” will be answered by voters at the polls in Hailey November 8 when they cast their ballots on a proposed ordinance banning plastic bags. The issue got on the local ballot due to the efforts of the Wood River High school environmental club, W.A.T.E.R. (We Appreciate The Earth’s Resources). [...]
Spanking In Castleford Schools 5 Times Yearly
The small school district of Castleford near Twin Falls still practices corporal punishment, but no more than five times a year according to school officials. That report came in a story published today in the TIMES-NEWS newspaper. According to the story, Idaho is one of 19 states where it’s still legal to whap kids on [...]
Land Board Reveals Vacancy Rates
After the GUARDIAN broke the story of the Idaho Land Board advertising for a construction manager to build a brew pub in downtown Boise, it was revealed they were spending the endowment fund money to attract a new tenant to the building with an 86% vacancy rate. One of our readers provided the results of [...]
Land Board To Build Brew Pub?
Not satisfied with the controversial ownership of a public storage business, Idaho’s land board has apparently decided to enter the brew pub and restaurant business. We doubt if they will send out press releases, but the state agency is advertising for a construction manager to oversee building a restaurant and brewing facility. The request for [...]
Yellowstone Is Green 23 Years After Fire
To GUARDIAN editor Dave Frazier it seemed like only yesterday when he experienced two fire storms in the same day covering the Yellowstone Fires of 1988 for NEWSWEEK. We took a little drive through the park last week and noted the growth of lodge pole pines and a new appreciation for the “natural reseeding” aspects [...]
Guv: Storage Business Purchase “Was A Mistake”
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has withdrawn his support for a controversial Land Board decision to own and operate a commercial storage business. The GUARDIAN revealed the state ownership–which competes directly with the private sector–in an EXCLUSIVE story last November. Otter told the IDAHO REPORTER his support of the decision to invest in the private retail [...]
Caldwell Urban Renewal Has Jitters Over Coffee
Espresso/Deli Café Space Available Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency seeks interested parties to lease a turn-key Espresso/Deli Café in the TVCC Building located in Caldwell. Interested parties who respond by June 17, 2011 by 4:00 p.m. will be considered. Responses may be mailed or delivered to Caldwell Economic Development Council, 117 South 9th Avenue, Suite #6, [...]
A Different SLANT On Election Results
Now that pundits, critics, and proponents have had a day to digest the results of the Tuesday election, it is time for the GUARDIAN slant. The DAILY PAPER’s Joe Estrella did a piece on the Meridian school levy election claiming voters “torpedoed” the tax hike. Did voters perhaps “decline to grant a request to raise [...]
Canyon Government Workers Earn Top $$$
The Idaho Press-Tribune ran a salary roundup of top paid government workers which shows that Canyon County is a great place to work if you like to benefit from taxpayer largess…not so good if you are one of those taxpayers. While the story shows half a dozen Nampa coppers earned (received?) well in excess of [...]
Teacher’s Unrest Grows Statewide
Opposition to State Education Super Tom Luna and the reforms passed by the legislature is growing statewide. We got word of the Reject the Luna Laws website today. Teachers are seeking to recall the Super and repeal his legislation through a referendum. As we have noted before, both efforts are an uphill battle. It will take [...]
Meridian Teachers Violate District Mail Policy (Again)
Despite continued admonitions from the administration, Meridian teachers continue to use the official school e-mail for political union activities. District Super Dr. Linda Clark got a copy of a union political e-mail leaked to the office of State Super Tom Luna Tuesday which is causing a bit of a stir. (We can only assume Super [...]
GV School Layoffs Fail For Lack Of Motion
The GUARDIAN posting about impending layoffs at the sprawling, but sparsely populated Garden Valley School District north of Boise drew attention of media and school patron who attended the Monday school board meeting. The board delayed the proposed layoffs of teachers and other staff. Our insider reports a standing room only crowd of orderly citizens [...]
“Bloody Monday” Set For Garden Valley School Staffers
It looks like a Monday Night Massacre is set for the regular meeting of the Garden Valley School District. A GUARDIAN reader sent us the agenda and said “the majority” of staff–including teachers–will lose jobs if the measures on the agenda are passed. An insider tells the GUARDIAN it breaks down like this: “There are [...]
More Student Exploitation Concerns
A concerned parent sent us the following message, raising concerns about using students for fundraising causes. It certainly is worth discussing the propriety of of turning students into mini sales forces, regardless how noble the cause. “I just got my weekly email newsletter from Discovery Elementary, and they are doing a fundraiser “to help kids.” [...]
Students To Be Exploited For Revenue?
(8) The state board of education shall promulgate rules authorizing local boards of trustees to sell advertising space on school buses. Such rules shall provide for the safe placement of such advertising and shall provide for reasonable restrictions on advertising content. Idaho’s Senate passed a bill (S1111) Tuesday that will allow advertising on school buses. [...]
Civil Unrest Looks The Same In Boise or Pakistan
Two images of civil unrest looked shockingly similar Friday. The Guardian shot of teachers and students in Boise doesn’t have the same passion as the Google News/Reuters image in Pakistan, but then again, the education folks weren’t protesting about murder either.
Tom Luna: Was He Duper or Dupee?
The GUARDIAN listened to Idaho School Super Tom Luna’s speech Friday at the City Club of Boise and came away somewhat sympathetic to his education reform plan. That was before we read a damning piece by John Miller of the AP This pro is one of the best journalists in the state and he certainly [...]
Meridian School Uses Parent E-Mail List For Political Effort Opposing Luna Plan
Looks like the principal of Meridian’s Renaissance High School is using confidential parent e-mail addresses for partisan politics to oppose State Superintendent Tom Luna’s latest plans to revamp Idaho education spending. GUARDIAN reader Chuck Everett was contacted via e-mail from his child’s school with the following message and attachment. From: McGrew Wendi [mailto:mcgrew.wendi@meridianschools.org] Sent: Thursday, [...]
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